[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 125 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 
                             UNITED NATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2000

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Congressional 
Resolution 390, which acknowledges Taiwan's efforts to become an active 
member of United Nations. Taiwan's commitment to democratic domestic 
policies, efforts to engage international organizations, and desire to 
formalize its role in the international community should no longer be 
overlooked by the Administration.
  Driven out of the UN in 1971, Taiwan has tried to gain readmission 
since 1993. Unfortunately, those efforts have been stymied because of 
obstruction by the People's Republic of China. The PRC, one of the five 
permanent Security Council members which determines new UN membership, 
has threatened to veto Taiwan's application for membership if it ever 
reaches the Security Council.
  Taiwan's exclusion is contrary to the single most important purpose 
of the UN, namely the maintenance of international peace and security. 
For the past decade, Taiwan, now under President Chen Shui-bian, has 
denounced the past policy of recovering mainland China by force and 
striven for peaceful coexistence with the PRC. It is the PRC that has 
resorted to the use of force, as occurred in 1995 and 1996.
  While Taiwan should be accepted in its own right into the UN, the 
efforts by China to isolate the country it deems a ``renegade 
province'' increase the urgency of moving to approve Taiwan's admission 
into that international body. Not only will that provide access to the 
UN Security Council and discourage future Chinese provocations, but it 
will shift the responsibility for Taiwan's security from a solely U.S. 
responsibility to that of the larger international community.
  I hope that with the passage of House Resolution 390 that Taiwan's 
vigilance for independence, ardent trust in America as an ally and 
recognition by the international community will be realized. It is 
important that we make a place at the international table for all 
supporters of democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for House Resolution 
390.

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